GroundBreak Corner

Construction’s Two-Speed Economy Construction remains resilient, but the headline numbers mask a widening divide as data centers and power accelerate while other markets confront rising costs, labor constraints and expensive capital. Read More Taking a Hard Look at a Chaotic Economy Economic uncertainty remains high, but regional differences matter. Despite inflation, policy shifts and slower…

AI Is About to Rewire Construction. Here’s What It Means for Contractors in the Carolinas A new McKinsey analysis suggests artificial intelligence could reshape far more than construction productivity. For contractors across North and South Carolina, the bigger question is who will control the data, workflows, customer relationships—and ultimately the value—of the next construction operating…

What America’s Best Construction Projects Have in Common Every contractor says they build quality projects. Every owner expects projects to finish safely, on schedule, and within budget. Yet anyone who has spent time in the construction industry knows those outcomes are far from guaranteed. So what separates exceptional projects from merely successful ones? Read More…

ABC Carolinas Convention 2026: Why Contractors Can’t Afford to Miss This Year’s Event For many construction leaders, attending a convention means stepping away from projects, clients, deadlines, and the daily demands of running a business. The question every general contractor asks is simple: Will it be worth my time? Read More America 250: Built by Builders…

Construction Professionals Offer Advice to New Graduates Entering AEC Industry GroundBreak Carolinas reached out to a cross section of architecture, engineering and construction top executives and young leaders in North Carolina and South Carolina to see what advice they might have for new college graduates entering our industry. Check out their “words of wisdom!” Read More…

Strategic Curiosity: Asking the Right Questions Before Giving Answers Strategic curiosity is a competitive advantage in construction and business because the best outcomes start with better questions, not faster answers. In a more complex market, leaders who pause to understand the real need, hidden risk, and unseen opportunity will consistently outperform. Read More Increasing Cashflow…

With War Raging and Oil Surging, What is the Economic Outlook? With a war raging in the Middle East, trade wars at play elsewhere, crude oil prices rising above $100 a barrel, the White House threatening a Cuba takeover and U.S. saber rattling directed toward Greenland, economic policy uncertainty is peaking and major investment decisions…

Construction is navigating a defining moment—where leadership, not just execution, determines who pulls ahead. From cross-generational trust and workforce engagement to character and artificial intelligence, the common thread is clear: strategy only works when people do. The firms that invest in clarity, culture, and disciplined innovation today will be the ones building what lasts tomorrow….

2026 Look Ahead with Christi Powell, ABC Carolinas GroundBreak Carolinas is pleased to share thoughts and insights from key leaders in the construction industry from North Carolina and South Carolina. Christi Powell, President & CEO of ABC Carolinas, shares her thoughts about 2026.  Read More Construction Industry Must Attract 349,000 Workers in 2026 Despite Macroeconomic…

The Economic Situation and What Lies Ahead With the books for 2025 ready to be closed and knuckles still white from the roller coaster ride generated by President Trump’s first year policy actions, and all this compounded by war, terrorist attacks, and a recovering post-COVID world, Dr. Bruce Yandle provides his report with a summary…